Manananggal

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Manananggal

"I HUNGER!!!"

Information

Alternate Names/Spellings

Origins

Alignment

Chaotic Evil

Element

Species

Monstrous Humanoid

Appearance

A flying winged disembodied torso...

Contents

Origins

The Manananggal is a creature with origins in the mythology, legend and folklore of the Philippines.

Appearance

The manananggal is described as scary, often hideous, usually depicted as female, and always capable of severing its upper torso and sprouting huge bat-like wings to fly into the night in search of its victims. The word manananggal comes from the Tagalog word tanggal, which means "to remove" or "to separate", which literally translates as "remover" or "separator". In this case, "one who separates itself". The name also originates from an expression used for a severed torso.

Behavior

Abilities

The manananggal is said to favor preying on sleeping, pregnant women, using an elongated proboscis-like tongue to suck the hearts of fetuses, or the blood of someone who is sleeping. The severed lower torso is left standing, and is the more vulnerable of the two halves. Sprinkling salt, smearing crushed garlic or ash on top of the standing torso is fatal to the creature. The upper torso then would not be able to rejoin itself and would perish by sunrise.